Bariatric Surgery Program

The Bariatrics Program at St. John's Hospital is a comprehensive clinic that treats people with obesity concerns and issues. We offer a well-rounded medical management and surgical program which treats each patient as an individual. We feel this is what sets us apart from other weight loss programs.

Many people struggling with morbid obesity cannot achieve significant weight loss through diet and exercise alone.

What is morbid obesity?

Morbid obesity is when your weight threatens either your health or life. It is a disease in which the accumulation of excess fatty tissue interferes with other bodily organs causing serious, life-threatening health problems, including:

• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• premature joint stress
• sleep problems
• many other health concerns

Through bariatric (or weight loss) surgery, along with a change in dietary habits, most people can improve their lives dramatically. The term bariatric surgery is used to describe the various surgical procedures available to treat obesity by modifying the gastrointestinal tract to reduce nutrient intake and/or absorption.

See video of Dr.Ahad talking about Bariatric Surgery

Seminars

Our informational seminars, conducted by Dr. Sajida Ahad and the bariatric team, are offered free of charge on the dates listed below. They are held from 5:00 pm - 7:00pm in the Dove Conference Center at Prairie Heart Institute, located at 619 E. Mason Street, Springfield, IL 62769. St. John's website will reflect any updates to the dates/times of informational seminars. Registration is encouraged by calling (217) 545-6979.

Upcoming seminar dates are listed below. As mentioned, seminars are from 5:00pm-7:00pm.

• Novemeber 26, 2012
• January 14, 2013
• February 11, 2013
• March 25, CANCELLED
• April 15, 2013
• May 7, 2013  - St. Mary's Hospital Decatur
• May 15, 2013
• May 27 - CANCELLED
• June 24, 2013
• July 22, 2013
• August 26, 2013
• September 23, 2013
• October 28, 2013
• November 25, 2013